YearToAvoid

2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

71/100

#5 most-complained of 15 Outlander years

The 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander has a Complaint Index of 71 and ranks 5th worst out of 15 model years, earning a Caution verdict. NHTSA lists 57 complaints, 6 recalls, and 7 crashes tied to reported issues, with Electrical System and Engine problems tied as the top areas at 25% each.

Complaints
57
Recalls
6
Crashes / fires
7 / 0
Injuries / deaths
8 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
25.5
24.5 city / 28 hwy

Top 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System14 (25%)
  2. Engine14 (25%)
  3. Structure & Body11 (19%)
  4. Airbags10 (18%)
  5. Other9 (16%)
  6. Brakes6 (11%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (9%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain3 (5%)
  9. Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (4%)
  10. Fuel System2 (4%)

What owners report

  • Airbags reportedly failed to fully deploy during head-on or front-end collisions, with the steering wheel smoking in one case after impact.
  • Owners describe a delayed or unresponsive brake feel during braking-to-avoid situations linked to the forward collision avoidance recall.
  • The driver's seat rocked back and forth under acceleration and braking, an issue the dealer reportedly made worse while attempting a fix.
  • The second-row middle seat belt buckle was reported to tighten excessively on the passenger's chest after being fastened.
  • The vehicle reportedly shook violently at 40 mph on snow or ice and could not be driven safely in those conditions.
  • Headlights reportedly burned out three times within about a year, described by an owner as unusually short bulb life.
2018 Mitsubishi Outlander complaints: complaints filed per month4May 2018Jan 2019Nov 2019Mar 2021Dec 2022Dec 2023Apr 2025Sep 2026
80 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2018 to Sep 2026; peak Dec 2018 (4).

2018 Mitsubishi Outlander recalls

6 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 26V252000Apr 20, 2026Structure & Body108,046 vehicles

    Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:support device/strut

    Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Outlander PHEV and 2014-2020 Outlander vehicles. The liftgate gas spring cylinders may corrode and lose pressure, which can result in a gas spring cylinder rupture or the liftgate falling unexpectedly.

    Risk: A gas spring cylinder rupture or a liftgate falling unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: MMNA will replace the left and right liftgate gas springs, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 17, 2026. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-26-001. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov June 3, 2026. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 25V507.

  2. NHTSA 25V507000Aug 7, 2025Structure & Body121,529 vehicles

    Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:support device/strut

    Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Outlander PHEV and 2014-2020 Outlander vehicles sold and/or currently registered in Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The liftgate gas spring cylinders may corrode and lose pressure, which can result in a gas spring cylinder rupture or the liftgate falling unexpectedly.

    Risk: A gas spring cylinder rupture or a liftgate falling unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: MMNA will replace the left and right liftgate gas springs, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 6, 2025. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-25-002

  3. NHTSA 20V403000Jul 13, 2020Seat Belts177,000 vehicles

    Seat belts: rear/other:buckle assembly

    Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Outlander and 2018-2019 Outlander PHEV vehicles. The second-row center seat belt buckle may interfere with the right-side seat belt buckle when the seat backs are folded down. The interference may cause the right-side seat belt buckle cover to come off, making the buckle latch inoperable and unable to restrain an occupant.

    Risk: An unrestrained occupant has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

    Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will modify the second-row center seat belt buckle cover, install a new warning label to the second-row seat support base, and provide a new warning label insert for the owner's manual, free of charge. The recall began September 1, 2020. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-20-004.

See all 6 recalls for the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander →

2018 Mitsubishi Outlander fuel economy and fuel cost

City
24.5 MPG
Highway
28 MPG
Combined
25.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,550
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2018 compared with other Outlander years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2016Avoid93145826
2017Good3651626
2018Caution7157625.5
2019Good2929525.5
2020Caution5731325.5

All Mitsubishi Outlander years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander reliable?
NHTSA data gives it a Complaint Index of 71 and a Caution verdict, ranking 5th worst among the 15 Outlander model years covered. It is not among the worst years, but several other years score lower on complaints.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Outlander?
NHTSA complaints are led by Electrical System and Engine issues, each accounting for 25% of complaints, followed by Structure & Body at 19% and Airbags at 18%.
Does the 2018 Outlander have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2018 Outlander, covering liftgate gas springs, a second-row seat belt buckle, forward collision mitigation software, and an incorrect wheel certification label. None are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2018 Outlander compare to other years?
Its Complaint Index of 71 is worse than 2017 (36, Good) and 2019 (29, Good), but better than 2016 (93, Avoid) and 2022 (100, Avoid), placing it 5th worst of 15 years tracked.
What is the fuel economy of the 2018 Outlander?
EPA rates it at 25.5 mpg combined (24.5 city / 28 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,550.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.